Structural component, especially a shielding component

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a structural component, especially a shielding component, with structural parts ( 10, 12, 14, 16 ) which are at least in part differently configurated with respect to their surface extent and/or the directional pattern, of which at least one structural part ( 10 ) of a first type is provided with a curvature which at least partially increases in the direction of at least one edge area ( 20 ), and with structural parts ( 12 ) of a second type which at least in part follow the pertinent curvature ( 18 ). In that in the respective curved edge area ( 20 ) there is at least one structural part ( 14 ) of a third type, according to the position of which the structural parts ( 12 ) of the second type are oriented and extend continuously at least in the area of the change in the curvature toward the edge area ( 20 ) along the first structural part ( 10 ), the edge area is strengthened by way of an additional structural part which in addition to low-vibration behavior leads to a clear reduction of acoustic propagation of noisy engine components.

The invention relates to a structural component, especially a shieldingcomponent, with structural parts which are at least in part differentlyconfigurated with respect to their surface extent and/or the directionalpattern, and of which at least one structural part of a first type isprovided with a curvature which at least partially increases in thedirection of at least one edge area, and with structural parts of asecond type which at least in part follow the pertinent curvature.

While heat development, for example of a high-economy,performance-optimized diesel engine can be very low on the cylindercrankshaft housing, this in no way applies to “hot zones” such as inmanifolds, turbocharger, catalytic converter, etc. Due to the more andmore compact construction of engines, components which are not thermally“compatible” are increasingly ending up in close proximity to oneanother. Accordingly, it is necessary to protect thermal enginecomponents against adjacent, heat-sensitive assemblies, such as sensors,fuel lines, pressure cells, body parts, etc. using so-called shieldingcomponents, such as heat shields. The situation is also exacerbated bythe compact structure in that the high packing density of the assembliesconstricts the cooling air flow in the engine compartment. Noiseabatement measures can also contribute to this. Thus, for example,plastic bottom plates which are designed to reduce the emission of noisefrom the engine compartment to the roadway, under certain circumstancescan produce effective insulation with which heat is enclosed in theengine compartment. Catalytic converters, due to their phased highsurface temperature, are considered to be among the heat sources whichcertainly may necessitate the use of protective shield barriers. Onetypical example of this is design measures such as positioning thecatalytic converter close by the manifold. This design principle whichperforms the function of rapid heat-up of the catalytic converter andthus for reducing emissions in the cold start phase shifts a majorsource of heat into the engine compartment where numerous assemblies arecrowded in a tight space. Certainly one reason for the growingimportance of shielding components such as heat shields is the trendtoward use of thermoplastics. The light and economical materials withtheir exceptional moldability are rapidly becoming common in the enginecompartment, but require special attention with respect to ambienttemperatures at the application site relative to other thermal engineparts (“New materials and development tools for heat protection”, in MTZDec. 2001, Vol. 72, pp. 1044 ff).

DE 102 47 641 B3 discloses a generic structural component, especially inthe form of a noise-damping shielding component, as a component of amotor vehicle. To improve acoustic insulation in the known structuralcomponent, the pertinent shielding component consists of a shieldingbody with a base edge as a structural part of a first type, which can befixed on the edge side by way of angular bracket legs within the enginecompartment on stationary parts there, and which shields thermal enginecomponents relative to heat-sensitive components.

The shielding body as a structural part of the first type is arched in aU-shape in the middle area and in addition is configured symmetrical inthis respect. The middle area which is arched in a U-shape undergoestransition on the edge side into edge areas of greater curvature, on thetwo opposing edge areas the angular brackets being mounted subsequentlyas fixing means. The shielding body consists of two layers of sheetmetal, between which an acoustically insulating and/or heat insulatinglayer extends, and to fix the sheet metal cover layers to one anotherflanging is used in which the free flange edge of one cover layersuperficially encompasses the edge area of the other cover layer. Inorder to reduce weight, the shielding body is made of aluminum or someother lightweight metal.

The known solution is used preferably for shielding a clutch between thegearbox flange and the universal shaft against solid-borne noise whichoriginates from the transmission and against the continuing influence oftemperature radiation of the exhaust pipe which runs adjacently. Intests, a reduction of acoustic emission in the known solution by 3 dBwas achieved. In order to achieve the pertinent shielding action, alongthe middle area of the first structural part in the form of a shieldingbody there extend other structural parts of a second type which extendin the form of bead-shaped longitudinal and transverse ribs over theconvex outer side of the shielding body. It is characteristic of thisknown structuring that the longitudinal ribs which extend over theentire length of the shielding body are adjoined by transverse ribswhich are integrally molded on, and which form a type of nub structureand which in an alternating sequence fit adjacently into theintermediate spaces between the two respective transverse ribs of anadjacent longitudinal rib. The edge areas which are bent off moredramatically to the outside with the connecting brackets are converselykept free of the indicated ribs. With respect to the interruptedtransverse rib structure of the known solution, it can be expected thatin this respect stiffness and strength are reduced. Furthermore, at thetransition point to the connecting brackets, stiffening of the shieldingbody is obtained only by way of the bent bracket legs which largelydefine in this respect the connection geometry, in this instance of thestructural component on the stationary engine or chassis components; inthis way the possible applications of the known structural component arelimited. The connecting brackets with their bent bracket legs and eyeconnecting points for the penetration of a fastener (screw) on the onehand require installation space and on the other hand they increase theweight for the known solution.

On the basis of this most similar prior art, the object of the inventiontherefore is to further improve the structural component of theindicated type while retaining its advantages, specifically to ensurevery good acoustic and heat insulation, such that less installationspace is required and that it can be used in a more versatile mannerwith simultaneously increased stiffness as well as strength and reducedweight with production costs which can be comparably specified. Thisobject is achieved with a structural component with the featuresspecified in claim 1 in its entirety.

In that, as specified in the characterizing part of claim 1, in therespective curved edge area there is at least one structural part of athird type, according to the position of which the structural parts ofthe second type are oriented and extend continuously at least in thearea of the change of the curvature toward the edge area along the firststructural part, the edge area is strengthened by way of an additionalstructural part which is an integral component of the shielding body andneed not, as is shown in the prior art, consist of attachment-bracketparts which are seated on the edge side. By transferring the structuralparts of the second type in the direction of the respective edge areawith the third structural part, the structural parts of the indicatedtype which are configurated preferably as bead-shaped stiffening ribsare guided in the area of the change in the curvature toward the edgearea and in this way stiffen the edge structure of the shielding body inthe form of the first structural part. In this respect the structuralcomponent can be designed as a flat trough and takes up littleinstallation space and requires little weight. The structural componentcan be economically attached to other engine components by way of knownfixing clamps. In the present case, however, a weld connection is chosenfor the corresponding fixing. Alternatively, screw connections can alsobe used for this purpose. By means of the different structural parts theoverall structural component can be stiffened such that a type ofshielding armor is created with natural vibration behavior which can betermed noncritical, so that the structural component solution as claimedin the invention is efficiently used especially where the majoroccurrence of vibrations can be expected in operation. In addition tothe indicated advantages, the base structure which has been stiffened inthis way effects a clear reduction of acoustic propagation of noisyengine components.

In one preferred embodiment of the structural component as claimed inthe invention, provision is made such that the surface extent of thestructural part of the first type is greater than that of a structuralpart of the second type and that the surface extent of a structural partof the third type is different from the surface extent of the structuralpart of the second type, especially is greater. By preference provisionis furthermore made such that at least one structural part of the fourthtype establishes a connection between the structural parts of the secondtype and that the structural parts of the second type are positioned atleast outside of the connecting points to extend continuously along thestructural part of the first type. Here, by preference, provision isfurthermore made such that the respective structural part of the fourthtype which forms the connecting points, with respect to its surfaceextent is chosen to be smaller than or equal to the surface extent ofthe structural part of the second type. In all orientations of theshielding component, armor-like strengthening and stiffening areimplemented by the resulting structure of preferably bead-shapedlongitudinal and transverse ribs over the indicated structural parts.This effect can be further enhanced by providing for the structuralparts of the second type to discharge into the structural parts of thethird and fourth type. In this way a structural part of one type thensupports stiffening by way of the structural parts of the other types in“flowing transitions”.

Other advantageous embodiments of the structural component as claimed inthe invention are the subject matter of the other dependent claims.

The structural component as claimed in the invention will be describedin detail below using one embodiment as shown in the drawings, in whichin the forms of diagrams and not drawn to scale

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the structural component;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the structural component;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the structural component;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the structural component according to thedirection X of the arrow in FIG. 1.

The solution as claimed in the invention relates to a structuralcomponent, especially a shielding component, for use in motor vehicleswith structural parts of different types 10, 12, 14, 16 which are atleast in part differently configurated with respect to their surfaceextent and/or the directional pattern, of which at least one structuralpart 10 of a first type is provided with a curvature 18 which at leastpartially increases in the direction of at least one edge area 20, andwith structural parts 12 of a second type which at least in part followthe pertinent curvature 18. In the respective curved edge area 20 onestructural part 14 of a third type extends; according to its positionthe structural parts 12 of the second type are oriented and extendcontinuously at least in the area of the change 22 in the curvaturetoward the edge area 20 along the first structural part 10.

As is to be seen especially from the plan view as shown in FIG. 1 andfrom the bottom view as shown in FIG. 2, the surface extent of thestructural part 10 of the first type viewed in the respective plan viewis larger than that of the respective structural part 12 of the secondtype, the surface extent of the structural part 14 of the third typebeing chosen to be different from the surface extent of the structuralpart 12 of the second type, especially to be larger. Furthermore, atleast one structural part 16 of the fourth type establishes a connectionbetween the structural parts 12 of the second type, the structural parts12 of the second type being positioned outside the connecting points 24to extend continuously along the structural part 10 of the first type(see FIG. 1). Furthermore, the respective structural part 16 of thefourth type with respect to its surface extent is chosen to be smallerthan the surface extent of a structural part 12 of the second type.

As is to be seen especially from the cross sectional shape as shown inFIG. 4, the structural part 10 of the first type has essentially asymmetrical structure in the longitudinal and transverse direction withthe two edge areas 20 of greater curvature which are opposite in thetransverse direction and between which a middle area 28 of lessercurvature extends. The actual symmetrical structure becomes a plane 30which passes through the middle longitudinal axis 26 and which includesa right angle 34 with an imaginary chord 32 of an arc which is formed bythe cross section of the structural part 10 of the first type.

As furthermore is to be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the structural parts 12of the second type which are respectively directly adjacent have thesame distance to one another which is smaller than the distance of thestructural part 16 of the fourth type to that of the third type 14. Thestructural parts 12 of the second type are positioned running parallelto one another in the transverse direction of the structural part 10 ofthe first type and with their respectively free ends 36 which areopposite one another they join the structural parts 14 of the thirdtype. The latter is to be seen especially from the side representationas shown in FIG. 3. At the site of the junction the respective ends 36are shaped convexly and at the site of the transition the structuralpart 14 of the third type is provided with the corresponding concavedepressions.

Viewed in the direction of looking at FIG. 1, to the top and bottom inthe longitudinal direction of the structural part 10 of the first type,the structural part 12 which is positioned respectively uppermost andlowermost passes into a plane transition surface 38, 40. Along themiddle longitudinal axis 26, in the top area of the structural part 10,there is a middle impression 42 and in the lower area on the transitionsurface 40 off-center there are two protrusions 44. These indicatedimpressions and protrusions 42, 44 can be used for engagement ofmounting clamps which are not detailed, which are conventional in thearea of heat shields, and which are provided for attachment of thestructural component to other engine components and/or chassis parts.But by means of the indicated impressions and protrusions 42, 44 fixingby way of a weld or screw connection can also be obtained in thismanner. The structural part 16 of the fourth type as shown in FIGS. 1and 2 is positioned only once along the middle longitudinal axis 26 inthe structural part 10 of the first type; but the possibility alsoexists, for purposes of an especially stiffened configuration, to placestructural parts 16 of the fourth type here repeatedly and alsooff-center. Furthermore, the indicated structural part 16 of the fourthtype viewed in the direction of looking at FIG. 1 begins on thestructural part 12 of the second type which is positioned uppermost andis continued on its lower end in the direction of the transition surface40, projecting on the latter and overlapping the surface 40.

As is to be seen overall from the figures, the structural parts of thethird and fourth type 14, 16 in the longitudinal direction of thestructural part 10 of the first type are positioned extending in astraight line, the structural parts 14 of the third type in thelongitudinal direction to the outside partially bordering the free edge46 of the structural part 10 of the first type. It is still within thescope of the invention to not have the structural parts 12 of the secondtype join the structural parts of the third and fourth type 14 and 16,but it would also be conceivable for the pertinent structural parts toassume a discrete distance to one another; however it is crucial thatthe structural parts 12 of the second type extend along the change 22 incurvature in the structural part 10 of the first type in order in thisway to ensure increased stiffness and strength in the delineated edgeareas 20.

The respective structural part 10, 12, 14, 16 is multi-layered instructure, consisting especially of two sheet metal cover layers 48(FIG. 1) and 50 (FIG. 2). Between the two sheet metal cover layers 48,50 an acoustic and/or heat insulating intermediate layer which is notdetailed is to extend. How these intermediate layers are to beconfigurated is indicated in the prior art, for example as in DE 41 37706 C2, DE 102 53 508 B3, DE 42 11 409 A1, etc. In order to ensureincreased corrosion protection, the indicated cover layers 48, 50 arepreferably formed from a high-quality steel material. Furthermore, thestructural component is configurated as a formed part, the structuralparts 12, 14, 16 which are connected integrally to one another,beginning with the second type 12, forming bead-shaped longitudinal andtransverse ribs which are an integral component of the structural part10 of the first type. The longitudinal and transverse ribs of differenttypes which are positioned perpendicular on one another in this wayallow an armor-like structure of the structural part 10 of the firsttype and accordingly a shielding body which is especiallyvibration-resistant.

It is still within the scope of the inventive configuration to effect aseparation along the middle longitudinal axis 26 such that instead ofthe illustrated full shell only a segment-like part-half shell forms thestructural part, then only one edge area 20 with the correspondingchange 22 in the curvature being present. Furthermore, the possibilityalso exists of the structural part 10 of the first type to extendwithout further curvature and accordingly to be configurated as plane asa flat shape. The two sheet metal cover layers 48, 50 are securelyconnected to one another in the conventional manner which is thereforenot detailed by way of flanging 52 while retaining the intermediatelayer, which is not detailed. This flanging 52 encompasses thestructural component on the circumferential side along its lower freeedge 46. Furthermore, it is still within the scope of the invention,instead of the bead-like impressions for the longitudinal and transverseribs, to position the structural parts 12, 14, 16 under consideration onthe structural part 10 of the first type for example by means of awelding process or the like, and not, as described, to deep-draw orshape, emboss or crimp the pertinent structural parts.

With the solution as claimed in the invention, for certain applicationsan optimum of low weight, low production costs, low vibration, highstiffness and strength with simultaneously very good heat and acousticinsulation is achieved. Moreover the structural component has an elegantappearance. The connection of the sheet metal layers to one another canbe supported at the same time by way of riveted joints 54. For certainapplications it is also sufficient to configure the structural componentwith only one layer or two layers.

The structural components of the other type, beginning with the secondtype 12, overall have a projecting prominent area which is larger thanthe nonprominent projecting area of the structural component of thefirst type 10. Furthermore, the structural parts 14 of the third typeextend along the respective edge area 20 of the structural part 10 ofthe first type, and toward their two free end sides they have an axialprojection relative to the inlet area of the structural parts 12 of thesecond type. Furthermore, for the structural parts 12 of the second typean alternating pattern is conceivable in which, proceeding from themiddle longitudinal axis 26 of the structural part 10, one structuralpart 12 always extends in alternation in one transverse direction or theother which is facing away from the structural part 16 of the fourthtype. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 the structural parts 12, 14, and16 sit on the convex top of the structural part 10 and in this way formthe described topographical projection. Furthermore, provision can bemade such that, instead of an external topographic projection, that thestructural parts 12, 14 and 16 be positioned on the inside of thestructural part 10 or both inside and outside.

1. Structural component, especially a shielding component, withstructural parts (10, 12, 14, 16) which are at least in part differentlyconfigurated with respect to their surface extent and/or the directionalpattern, of which at least one structural part (10) of a first type isprovided with a curvature (18) which at least partially increases in thedirection of at least one edge area (20), and with structural parts (12)of a second type which at least in part follow the pertinent curvature(18), characterized in that in the respective curved edge area (20)there is at least one structural part (14) of a third type, according tothe position of which the structural parts (12) of the second type areoriented and extend continuously at least in the area of the change (22)in the curvature toward the edge area (20) along the first structuralpart (10).
 2. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe surface extent of the structural part (10) of the first type isdifferent, especially greater than that of a structural part (12) of thesecond type, and wherein the surface extent of the structural part (14)of the third type is different from the surface extent of the structuralpart (12) of the second type, especially is greater.
 3. The structuralcomponent as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one structural part(16) of the fourth type establishes a connection between the structuralparts (12) of the second type and wherein the structural parts (12) ofthe second type are positioned at least outside of the connecting points(24) to extend continuously along the structural part (10) of the firsttype.
 4. The structural component as claimed in claim 3, wherein therespective structural part (16) of the fourth type with respect to itssurface extent is chosen to be smaller than or equal to the surfaceextent of the structural part (12) of the second type.
 5. The structuralcomponent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structural part (10) of thefirst type has essentially a symmetrical structure in the longitudinaland transverse direction with two edge areas (20) of greater curvaturewhich are opposite in the transverse direction and between which amiddle area (28) of lesser curvature extends, and wherein thesymmetrical structure furthermore becomes a plane (30) which includes aright angle (34) with an imaginary chord (32) of an arc which is formedby the cross section of the structural part (10) of the first type. 6.The structural component as claimed in claim 5, wherein the structuralparts (12) of the second type which are respectively directly adjacenthave the same distance to one another which is different, especiallysmaller than the distance of one structural part (16) of the fourth typeto that of the third type (14).
 7. The structural component as claimedin claim 5, wherein the structural parts (12) of the second type arepositioned running parallel to one another in the transverse directionof the structural part (10) of the first type and with theirrespectively free ends (36) which are opposite one another they join thestructural parts (14) of the third type.
 8. The structural component asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the structural parts of the third (14) andfourth type (16) in the longitudinal direction of the structural part(10) of the first type extend in a straight line and wherein thestructural parts (14) of the third type at least partially border thefree edge (46) of the structural part (10) of the first type at the sametime.
 9. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein therespective structural part (10, 12, 14, 16) is multi-layered instructure, consisting especially of two sheet metal cover layers (48,50), preferably of high quality steel material, between which anacoustic and/or heat insulating intermediate layer extends.
 10. Thestructural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is configuratedas a formed part and wherein the structural parts (12, 14, 16) which areconnected integrally to one another, beginning with the second type(12), form bead-shaped longitudinal and transverse ribs which are anintegral component of the structural part (10) of the first type.